MALE PERFORMANCE IN PISTACHIO (PISTACIA VERA L.)

This research was performed in order to select male performance with good criteria in the Pistachio Research Institute. The study was conducted on 10 genotype until flowering time, pollen quantity and pollen quality were evaluated. The results indicated that flowering times P1, P2 male genotypes were simultaneous with Kallehghochi female genotype; P3, P4, P5 male genotypes with female Ahmad Aghaii genotype; P6 and P7 male genotypes with femal Ohadi genotype and P8, P9, P10 male genotypes with femal Akbari genotype. Inflorescence density showed big differences between male genotypes, ranging from 4.5g for P6 to 1.66 g for P8, the average being 3.138g. The amount of pollen per inflorescence also showed big differences, ranging from 0.071g for P2 and 0.267g for P5, the average being 0.168g. Inflorescence density and pollen per in florescence are not related and there are clones with a good inflorescence density and a poor amount of pollen per inflorescence and vice versa. In order to determine the percentages of pollen germination, a medium consisted of sucrose, agar and boric acid was used. The results of percentages of germinated pollen showed significant differences between experimental samples: ranging from 30% for P3 and P4 to 85% for P10, the average was 56%. Medium culture without boric acid was lower in compare to other treatment. The viability of pollen collected from cutting inflorescences kept in water bottle was higher than dried inflorescences maintained at room condition.